Experts have warned that the southern Vietnamese coastal city of Nha Trang is gradually losing its tourist appeal due to the skyscraper growth that has seemingly spiraled out of control.

In recent years, Nha Trang, the heart of the south-central province of Khanh Hoa, has been worryingly overshadowed by scores of skyscrapers, which form a towering ‘wall of high-rises’ on several streets.

The western side of Tran Phu, one of the city's major streets, is now lined with new buildings, while its eastern part is being zoned for new facilities, with several boasting over 40 stories.

Local experts expressed their concerns that the damage caused by rampant construction to the overall urban planning and the community's welfare is almost irreversible.

According to architect Nguyen Van Loc, former director of the provincial Department of Construction, over 20 years ago local authorities released regulations stipulating requirements regarding the width and height of buildings on Tran Phu Street to make sure the area would look congruous and airy.

However, generations of leaders have allowed the tall buildings to proliferate anyway.

Over two decades ago, Tran Phu was known as one of the city's nicest streets, with villas and edifices overlooking the beach.

However, the race to erect the ‘intimidating wall’ began in 1996, when the 13-floor Lodge Hotel was built, and has gathered momentum since.

Such multi-floor hotels as the Yasaka Saigon Nha Trang, Sunrise Nha Trang, Novotel Nha Trang, and Sheraton Nha Trang cropped up one after the other.

In early November 2010, the city ended up on a list of the world’s worst beaches which was based on a poll conducted by National Geographic on 340 famed international experts.

They said the city has seen rampant construction, which has taken a heavy toll on its heavenly beaches and astounding natural beauty.

At a meeting held shortly afterward to discuss the grim poll result, city leaders and experts raised alarms on the rife construction of high-rises and proposed approaches regarding granting permits, ensuring the reasonable height of buildings, and allowing enough space for locals to ‘breathe’ in an effort to rectify the situation.

However, instead of slowing down, the race sped up, with even taller buildings mushrooming, including The Costa, Best Western Premier – Havana, and Muong Thanh Que Huong.

Foreign tourists enjoy their time on a Nha Trang beach. Photo: Tuoi Tre

In October last year, despite fierce objections, Nguyen Chien Thang, chair of the provincial People’s Committee, gave his go-ahead to zone the eastern parts of Tran Phu and Pham Van Dong Streets.

Accordingly, several resort facilities will be built on certain beach parts and the surface of Nha Trang Bay itself, as well as Chong and Do Islets, which are supposed to be kept intact.

A nationally recognized scenic spot, Nha Trang Bay is among the country’s 16 marine reserves and one of the world’s most gorgeous bays.

Similarly, the southern part of the Tran Phu Bridge has also been zoned for Phoenix Garden, a high-rise complex which occupies 48,400 square meters of land and water of Nha Trang Bay.

The zoning was blasted by experts from the Khanh Hoa Science and Technology Association last year.

Bui Dung, chair of the provincial Architects Association at the time, slammed the zoning as a wholly commercial project which is not for the community’s sake.

“People do not come to Nha Trang for the skyscrapers or luxury restaurants, but for its sheer natural beauty,” said Dr. Nguyen Tac An, chairman of the provincial Intellects Association and former head of the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography.

Nguyen Thiet Hung, former chair of the provincial People’s Committee, said investing for the community’s sake will bring about as much benefit as the construction of the skyscrapers.

“If the city’s beaches and coastal parks are unrivalled compared to others in the country regarding their gorgeousness and cleanliness, domestic and international tourists will flock to them every day before pampering themselves with service at hotels and restaurants in the neighborhood. That would definitely bring considerable revenues to the provincial budget,” he elaborated.

Hung urged that coastal parks be built on Pham Van Dong Street, and construction of high-rises be prohibited from the area, which remains sparsely populated now.

“It’s really tough to reverse the damage now that the construction of many towering buildings has been completed. It’s thus urgent that the granting of construction permits to projects in the areas which remain relatively untouched be strictly monitored,” architect Loc, former director of the provincial Department of Construction, noted.  

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